Dental treatment with sedation—medication-induced suppression of consciousness—helps patients relax during procedures. Sedation for children is a particularly effective way to reduce fear and potential pain. Similarly, dental treatment for children under general anesthesia is completely safe, and recovery is usually quick and smooth.
“Ozo” Clinic is one of the few dental clinics in Lithuania licensed to perform intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Therefore, dental treatment with sedation and general anesthesia can be carried out here. Below, we provide more detailed information about this treatment method.
Dental treatment with sedation for children
Sedation helps children feel calmer and reduces fear and anxiety. Using this method, the dentist can perform necessary procedures without the child experiencing pain or discomfort.
This is especially beneficial for young patients who are afraid of dental procedures or have special needs that make it difficult to remain still for extended periods. Sedation also reduces the risk of injury during treatment, as the child remains calm and still.
Overall, it is a way to ensure that children receive safe and comfortable dental care.
Sedation for adult patients
Sedation can be beneficial for adults who experience anxiety or fear of dental treatment, have a low pain threshold, or require extensive or complex procedures.
For adult patients, sedation may be administered in various forms depending on individual needs and preferences.
One of the main advantages of this method is a more comfortable and less stressful treatment experience, allowing patients to receive necessary care without significant discomfort or anxiety. Dental treatment under sedation or general anesthesia may also be beneficial for adults who find it difficult to remain still for long periods or who have medical conditions that make dental procedures more challenging.
Types of sedation
Depending on the patient’s needs and the complexity of the procedure, the following methods of sedation/anesthesia are used at “Ozo” dental clinic:
- oral sedation;
- intravenous sedation (the patient is not fully asleep but relaxed, without fear, or in a light sleep from which they can be easily awakened);
- general (intubational) anesthesia (so-called general anesthesia, where the patient is fully asleep and wakes up after the procedure).
With these methods, dental treatment with sedation or anesthesia for both adults and children is completely safe and comfortable. Throughout the procedure, the patient is monitored by an experienced anesthesiologist.
Oral sedation for children
This type of sedation is most commonly used for children in our clinic. The dosage of oral medication is calculated according to the child’s weight, and its effects begin within approximately 15–30 minutes.
During a single session of oral sedation, it is usually possible to treat 1–2 teeth, as the effective working time is about 30–40 minutes.
Dental treatment with sedation becomes easier for children. When sedation is effective, the child is calm, relaxed, drowsy, may feel slightly unsteady, and does not experience fear. After the procedure, the child may not remember what happened or may retain only positive memories of the treatment.
Limitations of oral sedation
The main disadvantage of this type of sedation is that taking the medication alone does not guarantee the success of dental treatment. There is still a possibility that the child may not tolerate the procedure or the sensations associated with it, which may lead to resistance or negative reactions.
In such cases, general anesthesia may be recommended as an alternative.
